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Much has changed over the years, but growing up to be a healthy female continues to be a daunting task. The mission of Girls Inc. to “inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold” assists girls triumph over the challenging and complex issues they face, including economic disparity, racism, negative body image, abuse, depression, and increasing violence against and among girls. How to create healthy, smart, engaged, and athletic girls is not a mystery and the costs of ignoring these needs by denying healthy development to some or all girls is enormous.
In recent years, girls' health issues, ranging from depression to drug use, from girl-on-girl aggression to early sexual activity, have emerged as major concerns. These concerns can be successfully addressed in empowerment programs such as Girls Inc., which are designed specifically for girls and delivered in girls-only settings where they feel secure, valued and affirmed. The need is to facilitate access to these programs where girls, will learn to thrive and achieve their best.
Almost 70% of Girls Inc. girls come from low income households, and over half are from single parent households. The reality of these girls’ lives places them at heightened risk for poor school performance, truancy, dropping out, child abuse, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and eventually entering the juvenile justice system. For the hundreds of girls we serve each year who face these challenges, the goal of Girls Inc. is to provide the safe space, the encouragement and the programs they need in order to envision a brighter future and to see within themselves a person defined by more than their external circumstances.
Girls Inc. is a very successful prevention program, and for these girls, being a Girls Inc girl can be one of the most important opportunities they will ever receive. Girls Inc. girls flourish and develop into the confident, compassionate, community-minded and empowered young women which we expect them to be, and which our community urgently needs them to be.
Girls Inc's goal for families is equally critical, especially in these difficult economic times. Girls Inc. provides access to quality and affordable childcare, thereby enabling workforce participation. This is especially true for so many of our families who are dangerously close to slipping from minimal economic self-sufficiency into economic collapse. Access to reliable and affordable childcare is a critical element for the workforce participation and economic self-sufficiency for many families. When a parent is confident that their daughter is off the streets, out of trouble, and using her time positively, their own job performance can be enhanced. The program at Girls Inc. enables many parents to enter the workforce, to maintain their employment, or to pursue opportunities for advancement. The affordability of the program at Girls Inc. is key, and we offer income-based sliding scale tuition structure. Additionally, Girls Inc. of Pinellas sponsors Favoring Our Families, an award-winning family strengthening program encourages family involvement in all phases of our program.
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